Okaz/Saudi Gazette

BRUSSELS — The topic of giving exemption for the citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states from the regime of Schengen visa was figured high in the talks between senior officials of the GCC and the European Union on Monday.

GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi and Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service Enrique Mora held the talks in the Belgian capital Brussels. They discussed ways to further enhance cooperation between the GCC and the European Union.

Albudaiwi and Mora emphasized the importance of collective action between the two sides to confront the current challenges. During the meeting, several topics of common interest pertaining to bilateral Gulf-European relations were discussed, in light of the strategic partnership between the GCC and the EU, including the process of exempting citizens of the Gulf countries from the Schengen visa.

They also reviewed a number of regional and international files of common interest, foremost of which were the dangerous developments and repercussions in the Gaza Strip and their impact on the security and stability of the region and the world.